The South African Revenue Service (SARS) will not make any further concessions to the current wage offer that was tabled to labour unions the past weekend. SARS considers the 9% to 11% wage settlement offer to be reasonable, fair and final. The wage settlement will be implemented to non-union members from 11 September 2009 and will be applied retrospectively with effect from 1 July 2009.
SARS has noted public statements today by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) rejecting the current wage offer. SARS expects labour unions to follow due process and submit their responses to the National Bargaining Forum (NBF), where parties are scheduled to meet again on Thursday this week.
SARS will from today strengthen its contingency measures to ensure that all offices across the country remain functional and accessible to taxpayers and traders even in the event that labour unions continue to strike. SARS will seek the assistance of other law enforcement agencies to protect non-striking workers and taxpayers at SARS offices.
There will be no tolerance for striking workers who attempt to blockade border posts or branch offices, prevent taxpayers and traders from conducting their business with SARS or intimidate non-striking colleagues. As from tonight SARS will issue bundled text messages to notify striking SARS personnel that the no-work-no-pay-rule will be applied and to inform them of the deductions from their salaries as a result their absence from work.
SARS will pursue disciplinary action against staff that had partaken in acts of intimidation, damage to property and breaking picketing rules. Video footage is currently being reviewed to assist with this process. SARS will reserve its right to employ temporary personnel at offices where there may be backlogs. SARS is confident that the outcome of a protracted strike will not have an impact on the deadlines for the submissions manual and e-filing returns.
The deadlines for manual and e-filing submissions are 18 September 2009 and 20 November 2009 respectively. SARS is confident that the necessary services and assistance to taxpayers will be available, even in the event of protracted industrial action.
Issued by: South African Revenue Service
8 September 2009
Source: South African Revenue Service (http://sars.gov.za)
